Illinois Department of Natural Resources Newsbits

Highlighting IDNR programs and events for the month of July

New Reporting System for Road Kill/Salvage Deer: Illinois has new regulations for road kill and salvage deer (find details through the “To Report a Road Kill Deer” link on the IDNR website homepage at http://dnr.state.il.us).

Road Kill – Individuals who wish to claim a deer killed in a vehicle collision must report the possession of the road-kill deer to the IDNR. Road-kill deer may only be claimed by those individuals who are residents of Illinois, are not delinquent in child support payments, and do not have their wildlife privileges suspended in any state. Individuals claiming road-kill deer must report the possession within 24 hours using the new online IDNR Road Kill Deer Reporting Form, which is found through this link on the IDNR website: http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/images/Road_kill.pdf. Possession may also be reported to the IDNR by phoning 217-782-6431 no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day. Individuals involved in deer-vehicle accidents who do not want to take possession of the deer are not required to file a report with the IDNR.

Salvage – Any individual finding a dead or injured deer (other than those killed in a vehicle collision or legally taken by hunting methods) may not move, transport, or take possession of the deer or deer parts until making a salvage deer report to and obtaining permission from an IDNR Conservation Police officer or an IDNR Regional Law Enforcement office. Contact information is available at this link: http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/images/Road_kill.pdf.

Fall Turkey Lottery Deadline July 6: The permit application deadline for the first lottery for the 2010 Illinois Fall Shotgun Wild Turkey season (Illinois residents only) is July 6. The season dates are Oct. 23-31. Hunters may apply online through DNR Direct at www.dnr.state.il.us (click on the Online Licenses button). For more information on the fall wild turkey season, go to the web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/turkey.htm.

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison Co.) Chouteau Island Dove Hunting Program: Due to unusually wet conditions, the Chouteau Island unit of Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison Co.) was removed from the drawing for dove hunting permits for this fall. No permits for this area were allocated for the first five days of dove hunting season, allowing alternate hunting choices to be granted for individuals who were successfully drawn in the lottery. Sunflowers were planted early on Chouteau Island, but excessive rains and river water seepage have flooded and destroyed the majority of the crop. The fields remain flooded at this time. From July 14 through August 4, unsuccessful applicants, non-residents and anyone who has not applied for or received a dove hunting reservation may call 217-524-6514 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. M-F) to apply for any remaining open areas and dates at other sites throughout the state.

Des Plaines SFWA Archery Deer Sign-in: Archery deer hunters at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area will no longer need to obtain a site permit to hunt deer beginning with the 2010-2011 archery deer season. Starting this fall, hunters at Des Plaines SFWA will be required to sign in and out and record harvest at the nearest hunter check station at the site. Two site check stations will be available for archery deer site harvest reporting: one at the main site office and the other at the west parking lot of the Area B. Hunters in Area A (West Grounds) will use the check station at the Des Plaines main site office. Hunters in Areas B and C (East Grounds) will use the check station at the west parking lot of Area B. Additional hunting information and maps can be accessed through the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/hunter_fact_sheet/index.htm

Wolf Creek State Park Archery Deer Hunting Change: The IDNR has made a change in the archery deer hunting program beginning this fall at Wolf Creek State Park. Hunters will no longer be required to apply for a week-long reservation as in previous years. Instead, hunters will be required to sign up for a free site hunting card prior to hunting. The sign-in sheet will be located at the Eagle Creek State Recreation Area office (directly west of Wolf Creek State Park across the Findlay Bridge). Hunters should be careful to sign the correct sheet for Wolf Creek State Park as there will also be a sign-in sheet for Eagle Creek State Recreation Area hunting. This change will give hunters the opportunity to hunt without the pre-planning needed with the previous system. Season dates will coincide with the statewide archery deer season and will be closed during the firearm deer season. All hunters are required to have a current hunting license, habitat stamp, and IDNR-issued archery deer permit. Archery hunters at Wolf Creek State Park will be required to harvest a doe before harvesting an antlered deer (4 points or better). This requirement is intended to help manage the large deer population on and near Wolf Creek State Park. For more information on deer hunting opportunities and site regulations at Wolf Creek State Park, contact Eagle Creek State Recreation Area at 217-756-8260 or IDNR District Biologist Doug Brown at 217-345-2420.

OutdoorIllinois: The reconstructed 1847 water-driven grist mill at Franklin Creek State Natural Area in Lee County, and spikes of blazing-star standing tall in the restored prairie surrounding the mill, are featured on the cover of the July 2010 issue of OutdoorIllinois, the official publication of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In addition to the feature site story on Franklin Creek, stories this month include a research project by the Illinois Natural History Survey on the effects of club-style fishing tournaments on bass, management practices for maintaining oak woodlands, mountain biking in Illinois state parks, the second-annual Illinois high school bass fishing tournament and projects undertaken through the State Wildlife Grant program. For a summary of feature magazine articles, listen in on monthly podcasts at http://dnr.state.il.us/OI. OutdoorIllinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources and a bargain at only $15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription that includes an information-packed annual calendar in the December issue. Visit http://dnr.state.il.us/OI or call 1-800-720-3249 to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. For information on advertising in OutdoorIllinois, call 217-785-8610 or e-mail michelle.silver@illinois.gov.

Myer-Dickson Site Program: Dr. Michael Conner, associate curator at Dickson Mounds Museum, will discuss recent research at the Myer-Dickson portion of the Dickson Mounds site. on Tues., July 6 at 7 p.m. at the Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown. The program is part of the monthly meeting of the Illinois Valley Archaeological Society, which is open to the public. The Myer-Dickson area, largely in what is now the museum’s parking lot, contained hundreds of prehistoric pits and a number of houses, some which date to the same time as the mounds. Information from the site provides a look at changing use of the area over several centuries, including construction of one of the largest prehistoric structures known in Illinois. For more information call 309-547-3721.

Exploring Springfield: The Illinois State Museum’s “Super Saturdays” event on July 10 is “Touring Springfield is as easy as traveling through the alphabet from A to Z.” The free event is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with hands-on activities for kids ages 4-8. For more information, call 217-782-6044. The Illinois State Museum is located at Spring and Edwards Streets in the State Capitol Complex in Springfield.

Science Series: The Illinois State Museum’s monthly science series program for July is “Geological Adventures on the Carolina Frontier: The Search for Kaolin and the Rise of a Heroic African-American Potter.” The free program is scheduled for Wed., July 14 at 7 p.m. at the ISM Research and Collections Center, 1011 East Ash, Springfield. The program will be presented by Dr. John Michael Vlach of George Washington University. The technological innovation of alkaline-glazed stoneware pottery was introduced in Edgefield, South Carolina, during the first decades of the 19th century. Numerous enslaved African-American laborers worked at these production sites. Edgefield pottery presents dynamics in industrial innovations along with the impacts of African cultural knowledge and racial ideologies on a craft specialization during the historic period in America. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, phone 217-782-0061.

Wingshooting Clinics: The IDNR and participating partners will sponsor wingshooting clinics at sites throughout Illinois to help improve the shooting skills of participants. Youth/Women's clinics are designed to teach participants basic firearm and hunter safety, and the fundamentals of wingshooting. Hunter clinics are designed to enhance the wingshooting skills of hunters and provide sound wingshooting practice techniques. The clinics are conducted on weekends through the early fall. For a complete schedule, check the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us. Upcoming clinics include:

Give Us Your Best Shot: The deadline to get your photos entered for the 11th annual OutdoorIllinois photo contest is August 6. All winning images will be published in the February 2011 issue of OutdoorIllinois–the sixth annual photographic issue. Among the items the “Best of Show” winner will receive are a weekday, one-night lodging and breakfast for two package for Rend Lake Resort and Lodge and two tickets to the 2011 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet, where the recipient will be honored and the winning photograph displayed. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive three-year, two-year and one-year subscriptions, respectively, to OutdoorIllinois and the opportunity to have their winning photos published in the February 2011 issue. Contest guidelines are available at http://dnr.state.il.us/oi/contest/PhotoContestCallForEntries.pdf or call 217-785-0975.

Boating Infrastructure: Local governments, privately-owned marinas and boatyards have until August 2 to apply for grants available to provide temporary docking facilities for large boats. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program, and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project’s cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, non-trailerable recreational boats - those 26 feet long or longer. The applicant must provide the remaining 25 percent of a project’s cost. Eligible facilities must accommodate boats of 26 feet or longer, must be used by transient boaters who do not stay more than 10 consecutive days, and must be open to the public. Projects could include boat slips, mooring buoys, navigational aids, safe harbors and initial dredging to provide transient boats with safe channel depths. All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the IDNR Federal Aid/Special Funds Section of the Office of Resource Conservation. For additional information, call 217-782-2602.

Squirrel Season: The Illinois squirrel hunting season opens August 1 and continues through next February 15 (except closed in counties open to firearm deer hunting November 19-21 and December 2-5). Squirrel hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The daily limit is five squirrels with a possession limit of 10.